Grain Drying Bin with Negative Pressure Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current grain storage and drying methods face challenges such as high labor costs, non-uniform drying, moisture limitations, energy inefficiency, grain quality reduction, condensation issues, and pesticide residues, which affect storage safety and product quality.
Innovation Solution
An integrated grain drying/storage/regulating bin with a built-in ventilation pipe and an externally disposed compartment, equipped with heating, refrigerating, and humidifying devices, utilizing negative pressure ventilation and a centrifugal fan for balanced air distribution, which prevents condensation and ensures uniform drying, cooling, and conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If positive pressure ventilation is used to adjust grain in integrated bins, then grain can be moved, but condensation phenomenon occurs and grains cannot be adjusted evenly and effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional positive pressure ventilation approach by using negative pressure ventilation. The system uses a fan to create negative pressure that draws air upward through the grain layer, preventing condensation while achieving effective grain adjustment. This inversion of the pressure direction resolves the contradiction between grain movement capability and condensation prevention.
2Productivity
If a drying machine is used for drying grain, then drying efficiency is high and drying time is short, but energy consumption is relatively high and grain quality is reduced due to forced maturity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs natural convection currents to drive the drying process without requiring high-energy mechanical drying machines. The system uses the temperature difference between heated air and cooler grain layers to create natural airflow that moves moisture from the grain, achieving efficient drying with minimal energy input while preserving grain quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter gradually through controlled heating rather than using high-temperature forced drying. By maintaining lower temperatures and using extended drying time with natural convection, the system achieves effective moisture removal without causing grain maturity stress, thus preserving grain quality while reducing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If ventilation and cooling is used to store grain safely in summer, then grain safety is improved, but consumption is high and condensation is easy to be generated on grain surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling temperature and humidity levels through controlled heating and natural convection rather than continuous high-energy ventilation. The system maintains grain safety by preventing mold growth through controlled environmental parameters while minimizing energy consumption and avoiding condensation through careful temperature management.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If medicine is used for fumigation and storage to prevent grain from pests, then insect and mildew prevention is improved, but drug residue is easily caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of chemical fumigation into a beneficial natural process by using controlled thermal treatment and natural convection to create an environment hostile to pests and mold without chemical substances. The heating system raises temperatures to levels that naturally inhibit pest and mold growth, eliminating the need for chemical agents and preventing drug residue contamination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces production costs, enhances grain toughness, prevents insect and mildew infestations, and improves storage quality by ensuring uniform treatment and reducing chemical agent usage, while maintaining grain quality and yield.
Implementation Method 1
when heating and drying (refrigerating and cooling, humidifying and conditioning) the grains in the integrated bins, condensation phenomenon can be avoided, since the bin adopts negative pressure ventilation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of air suction ducts are arranged in the integrated bin from top to bottom, one end of the air suction duct is communicated with the internal ventilation pipe in the integrated bin, the other end of the air suction duct is connected with the air brake, and all the air suction suctions are connected with a centrifugal fan
Implementation Method 3
hot air (cold air, wet air) passes through the grain layer of the bin along a short path with a strong penetrability and a small wind resistance
Implementation Method 4
The heating device has a relatively wide heat source carrier, e.g. liquid such as hot water and heat conduction oil, gas such as hot air
Implementation Method 5
the heating device, the refrigerating device, and the humidifying device are disposed outside the integrated bin body, and are connected with the air flow distributing device through a duct
Implementation Method 6
the heating device, the refrigerating device, and the humidifying device are disposed outside the integrated bin body
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An integrated grain drying/storage/regulating bin with a built-in bellows and an externally disposed compartment comprises an integrated bin body, a grain distributing device, an external compartment outside the integrated bin body, an internal bellows inside the integrated bin body, a heating device, a refrigerating device, a humidifying device, an air flow distributing device, a centrifugal fan, and an air flow control valve. The top of the integrated bin body is provided with a grain feed port. The grain distributing device is disposed inside the bottom of the grain feed port. The middle portion of the integrated bin body is provided with several levels of the internal bellows. The external compartment is provided at the periphery of the integrated bin body. The heating device, the refrigerating device, and the humidifying device are disposed outside the integrated bin body, and are connected with the air flow distributing device through a duct. The merits of the present invention are: (1) being able to prevent the occurrence of moisture condensation; (2) facilitating production cost reductions; (3) uniformly heating and drying the grains in the bin; (4) being capable of preventing the filter for the grain layers in the bin from blockage or short circuit caused by spontaneous grain grading; (5) being able to implement low temperature or quasi-low temperature storage; and (6) being capable of enhancing grain toughness, lowering breakage rate, and increasing production yield and product quality.